LBP extends P9B in loans to priority sectors in 2010

STATE-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) 7 on Wednesday reported extending P9.09 billion in loans to its priority sectors last year, higher than what was registered in 2009.

LBP 7 vice president and head Ruel Romarate said the amount is P142 million higher than the P8.95 billion recorded in 2009.

I.Protect: Battle of the beers

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

Canada encourages Cebuanos to grab trade opportunities

TO IMPROVE trade relations between Canada and Cebu, the Canadian embassy is inviting Cebuanos to take advantage of job opportunities and investments in Canada.

“Canada is open for business,” said Andrew Smith, senior trade commissioner of the Embassy of Canada, in a recent press briefing.

Hilton Cebu becomes Mövenpick

AFTER operating since 2005, Hilton Worldwide will cease to manage the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa tomorrow.

A company notice published in yesterday’s Sun.Star Cebu newspaper stated that Hilton Worldwide and Oikonomos International Resources Corp. will end the management agreement. No reason for ending the agreement was given.

Canadian government offers help on ensuring meat safety

THE Canadian government, through its local embassy, will be organizing a food safety and handling seminar on all fresh meat among local government units to shed light on the issue involving the quality of meat products sold in wet markets.

SME arm optimistic on PLDT’s move

WITH the majority sale of Digitel shares to the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co., those in the latter’s small and medium enterprise arm believe there will be no immediate impact for consumers.

Kat Luna Abelarde, vice president and head of the PLDT SME Nation, said that the only changes they foresee is that they will be able to provide their services to a larger market.

Ng: Convergence in ICT events

LAST week, I was in two information and communications technology events wherein Dell and Acer introduced their smartphones and some upcoming tablets. These are two of the leading computer makers worldwide, and it seems that they are gearing to enter these two categories. I think in the next few weeks, we will also be seeing HP and Lenovo launch their own products in the category.

PLDT takes control of Digitel

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and a key rival announced a P69.2-billion merger yesterday amid intense competition and falling profits.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said his company would acquire a 51.5 percent stake in Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., also known as Digitel, in a share swap with principal shareholder JG Summit Holdings.

BPI projects growth in auto loans, announces return of 3-day car show

WITH a 15 percent growth in auto loan releases for the first two months of the year, officials of a bank are confident that their three-day car show will end with good results.

Canadian firm offers water solution to Cebu

A CANADIAN wastewater solutions company introduced to Cebu officials technology that aims to help water-scarce regions have an integrated water management solution.

The company is set to submit a concept proposal to the city governments of Cebu and Mandaue.

Globe supports 5th ICT awards

GLOBE Business, the enterprise and corporate client servicing unit of Globe Telecom, is taking part in the 5th International ICT Awards as part of its contribution to advancing the country’s business proces outsourcing sector.

Globe Business said in a press statement that it has been a strong supporter of the ICT Awards since 2008 and remains a strong partner of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines in the annual event.

Tsuneishi named best employer, gets award for community projects

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has chosen Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, (Cebu) Inc. (THICI) as one of the country’s outstanding employers in 2010. The government also awarded Balamban-based shipbuilding company for its outstanding community projects.

CIE program lets students help poor go into business

A SCHOOL program that helps uplift micro-enterprises in the country has not only helped beneficiaries improve their businesses but has also encouraged students to develop a good habit of hard work and continuous learning.

Center of International Education (CIE) vice president for corporate affairs and human resources Jeruel Roa told Sun.Star Cebu that the school’s program, called Gift of Gold (GOG), does not only aim to improve the businesses of their beneficiaries but trains students to become successful entrepreneurs in the future.

Tax notes: Extended banking time for acceptance of tax returns

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued Bank Bulletin No. 2011-05 extending the banking hours of Authorized Agent Banks (AAB) for tax payments of internal revenue taxes. All AABs will be opened on two Saturdays, on March 26 (in lieu of April 9, which is Araw ng Kagitingan) and April 2, to accept tax returns. The bank closing hours of AABs are likewise extended from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for April 1-15, for purposes of accepting tax payments.

PLDT service unifies voice, data

AFTER launching subscription bundles fit for businesses, a telecommunications company is taking a step further to provide services that would integrate voice and data.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. launched Friday PLDT Uno, a unified communication solution that combines voice and data applications using a single network.

Acer unveils Android phone in Cebu; tablet versions still coming

ACER Philippines on Saturday unveiled to Cebuanos its latest high-end smartphone model, the Acer Liquid E-Ferrari Edition. The company said it hopes to boost its sales in the fast growing smartphone market.

Acer Philippine assistant product manager Gino Villame described the Liquid E-Ferrari Edition as Acer’s new Android flaghip model. Villame said the phone “promises power and performance with impressive functional features and eye-catching aesthetic qualities.”

Reeves: Major court victory for K-1 fiancé(e)s

LAST March 17, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in Matter of Sesay 23 I&N Dec. 431 (BIA 2011), handed a victory to K-1 fiancé(e) immigrants. The K-1 visa category is granted to immigrants in order to enter the United States as fiancé(e)s and marry their US citizen petitioners. Congress placed many severe restrictions on this visa category in order to deter visa fraud. Unfortunately, some of these restrictions led to harsh interpretations of the law by the Immigration Service. The BIA, in Sesay, has now eliminated one of the harshest interpretations by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

SLAMC sets record performance in 2010

SUN Life’s mutual funds business posted over P19.3 billion in assets under management (AUM), a 28 percent increase from 2009. This is the highest AUM ever reached by the company in its ten years of operations. Sun Life Asset Management Company, Inc (SLAMC) is the principal distributor of the Sun Life Prosperity Funds and the mutual funds manager of Sun Life Financial- Philippines..

The company also ended the year with gross sales up 155 percent, now pegged at P5 billion from the previous year’s P1.9 billion.

6 start-ups try Cebu tech incubator

SINCE it began operating last month, a technology business incubator in Cebu is currently serving six start-up companies.

Pauline Wade, manager of the Cebu Business Incubator for IT located at the University of the Philippines Cebu Campus, said they are training the six company owners to refine their business plans and concepts.

From souvenirs, island-hopping, company branches out to hotels

BANKING on a demand for “value chic,” Islands Stay Hotels intends to open five to six hotels in Cebu within the next three years, while expanding its accommodation service to Manila, Davao and Baguio.

The Islands Group chief executive officer Jay Aldeguer, in a recent press briefing, told reporters the expansion of its hotel chain is part of the company’s plan to tap the tourism market in some of the key locations in the country.

Labor Case Digest: Constructive Dismissal

RESPONDENT Virgilio E. Pulgar filed a complaint for constructive dismissal against the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM). He alleged that while he was on leave, he was not allowed to enter the office premises of PRRM on March 31, 1997. His personal things were taken from his office, placed in boxes and put in storage. Did the complaint prosper?

Ruling: No.

Batuhan: From a trip, food for thought

IT CERTAINLY has been a most interesting long weekend for us.

In years past, while still making our abode in the UK, we would usually travel to European or North American destinations. Places as exotic as Reykjavik, as scenic as Paris, as vivacious as Barcelona and as frivolous as Las Vegas have been favorite haunts, so much so that they had become a bit tiring, and hardly worth the effort anymore.

Veteran of start-ups encourages ‘global, entrepreneurial mindset’

WHILE he noted “promising” talent in the country, a man who has helped many start-up companies in Silicon Valley said locals need to have a “global mindset.”

DTI 7: Take advantage of green products market

CEBU retailers were told to explore further the manufacturing and selling of “green products” and take advantage of their good opportunity in the European market.

S&R announces sale for members

S&R, a membership-shopping club, is offering its first Cebu Members’ Treat, a sale exclusive for members at its Mandaue City branch on March 30 to April 3 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Members will enjoy exclusive deals, buy 1 take 1, 50 percent off and huge discounts on a wide selection of local and imported merchandise.

I-protect: The ‘PLANTERS’ case

Clint Fabiosa and Ana Liza Villamor

DOT braces for Japan fallout

CEBU’s micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) players were encouraged to venture into the yogurt business because of its smaller capital requirement and as a good alternative to the ice cream business.

Filipino-Cebuano Business Club Inc. (FCBI) president Rey Calooy said there is an opportunity in the yogurt business since it is not as capital-intensive as selling and making ice cream.

Selling yogurt ‘a healthy business’

CEBU’s micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) players were encouraged to venture into the yogurt business because of its smaller capital requirement and as a good alternative to the ice cream business.

Toral: Managing customers online

GLOBE Telecom is very active in using social media to reach out to its customers and prospects. I recently got the chance to interview its social media head Coy Caballes (http://bit.ly/caballes) on the approaches that worked for him.

A lot of companies today are changing their communications strategies. From one-to-many using traditional media, the shift is many-to-many broadcast using Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.

Smart’s P15 package mixes text, downloads

FOR P15, prepaid subscribers of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) can already send text messages and download up to five songs into their mobile phones.

Smart has launched its AllTxt Tunes 15 package that combines Value-Added Services